Apparatus for monitoring the connection of a conveyor belt by means of high-energy rays

Abstract

The invention is directed to an apparatus for continuous and non-destructive monitoring of the connection of a conveyor belt. During movement of the conveyor belt, a radiation source emits rays in the direction of the belt surface. The rays are of such high energy that they penetrate the conveyor belt and the connection thereof within a material-free region. A sensor detects the rays which have passed through. A process computer evaluates the result of the radiographic examination by comparing the actual connection values to set connection values and connection limit values. The radiation source and the sensor are accommodated in a housing. The housing has two openings between the radiation source and the sensor through which the moving conveyor belt passes without contact. The housing is integrated into the lower run of a conveyor system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for continuously and non-destructively monitoring a connection of a conveyor belt defining a belt surface and having a carrying side cover plate on which goods are carried and a running side cover plate with each of the cover plates being made of an elastomer material and having a reinforcement embedded therein, the apparatus comprising:
 a radiation source for transmitting rays toward said belt surface during movement of the conveyor belt at a region of the conveyor belt free of the goods carried thereon; 
 said radiation source being configured to transmit said rays with sufficiently high energy so as to cause radiation to pass through said conveyor belt and the connection thereof within said region; 
 a sensor for detecting the radiation passed through said conveyor belt and said connection without contact therewith to carry out a radiographic check by providing actual values of said connection; 
 a processor for evaluating said radiographic check by comparing said actual values of said connection to set values and limit values of said connection; 
 a housing; 
 said radiation source and said sensor being disposed in said housing; and, 
 first and second housing openings disposed between said radiation source and said sensor through which the moving conveyor belt and said connection thereof pass without contact. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said radiation source emits x-rays. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said radiation source is an x-ray tube. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said radiation source is arranged in said housing in such a way that said source covers the entire width of said conveyor belt and said connection thereof. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said radiation source comprises two radiation source units arranged in said housing in such a way that said radiation source covers the edge regions (A) of said conveyor belt and said connection thereof. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said conveyor belt and said connection thereof are subdivided into a plurality of imaginary longitudinal strips; and, said radiation source is step-wise displaceable transversely to the direction of movement of said conveyor belt and said connection thereof so as to permit said rays to foe directed sequentially toward corresponding ones of said longitudinal strips. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said radiation source covers said carrying-side cover plate and said sensor covers said running-side cover plate. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor is a line sensor. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor is an individual sensor. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a sensor chain. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said housing openings for the moving conveyor belt are wide slots. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is arranged at the lower run of the conveyor belt and said connection thereof. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said housing is sunk into the ground. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said housing is a single housing with said radiation source and said sensor being integrated therein to carry out said radiographic check. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for continuously and non-destructively monitoring a connection of a conveyor belt defining a belt surface and having a carrying side cover plate on which goods are carried and a running side cover plate with each of the cover plates being made of an elastomer material and having a reinforcement embedded therein, the apparatus comprising:
 two mutually separate housings; 
 a radiation source mounted in each one of said housings for transmitting rays toward said belt surface during movement of the conveyor belt at a region of the conveyor belt free of the goods carried thereon; 
 said radiation source being configured to transmit said rays with sufficiently high energy so as to cause radiation to pass through said conveyor belt and the connection thereof within said region; 
 a sensor mounted in each one of said housings for detecting the radiation passed through said conveyor belt and said connection without contact therewith to carry out a radiographic check by providing actual values of said connection; 
 an opening formed in each one of said housings disposed between the radiation source mounted therein and the sensor mounted therein, through which the moving conveyor belt and said connection thereof pass without contact; and, 
 a processor for evaluating the radiographic check of each of said sensors by comparing the actual values of said connection to set values and limit values of said connection.